Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-03
Gales aud Sketthes.
A POWERFUL CHRISTENING.
CONTINUED from Yesterday. }

OF beauty and refinement was unheard of
( in 1.-THE woods" and the uncouth lumber
men, in heavy makinaws pitched over
alls and packs" fell back with common
consent, in wordless decorum.
| Presently Tom Terrill's face grew
ghastly in panied alright. and whispering
with white lips, "God help me its her!"
he snatched his lumberman's cap from its
peg and slipped out of the rear entrance.
and disappeared instantly in the gloom OF
the stunted pines.
The proprietor of the mill, Howard
King. happening to be present, babe III
adv good evening" in cordial manner,
and waited with hat in hand for her to
enter.
II came for Baptiste Merrivale," she
said, sis he here?'
| She had by this time stepped inside the
door, and, as the words fell from her lips,
each one of the group uttered an invol-
untary exclamation of panied surprise,
and instinctively looked after the hidden
| Terrell, whose prophetic words still rang
in their ears. Then all eyes fell on the
expectant face OF the woman before them.
and each motioned to the other to speak,
but what man of them could utter word
concerning the dead Baptiste?
She saw that something was woefully
wrong, instantly. by the painful hushed
xDression on each bearded face.
.Oh! what is it; what has happened to
him: and where is hep" she exclaimed,
nervously clasping her small gloved hands,
and looking full into the face of the pro-
prietor with piteous appeal in her wide
open eyes.
| Howard Kings face blanchcd as he said
| in low, unsteady tones MADAM. suppose
| Baptiste is very ILL.,"
oh take me to him then ~ she in
terrupted with quivering lips, please
take me to him.
Not a man stirred, but every eye was
fixed on the proprietor, and every ear
strained to catch his reply.
Madam" he began again, in husky,
altering accents. as he took the hard held
| mploringly out to him in his brown pal
bird, MADAM, if Baptiste could not re
coverP"
"Oh, do not say such cruel things ~
she walled, the tears trckling down her
while face, as she leaned toward King to
catch the next word which was to thrust
the dagger into the wounded heart, up to
| the hilt.
"Dead,' said the proprietor. "Baptiste
is dead and buried - His words came
low, as if the weight of each fateful one
estimated the terrible cost. How strange
sud unnatural his tones were, as his
-peech broke the tension OF suspense.
Stunned by the awful intelligence, she
oazed at him as if trying to comprehend
the pain and sorrow his words conveyed.
A deathly pallor crept over her agonized
features, and a strange look OF terror
dilated the brown eyes Slowly she with
drew her hand from that of the proprietor.
and lettering to a seat, she sat down re.
peating: dead ! dead dead -
The tears dried on her cheek, and no
more came to her relief, but the look OF
horror deepened In the dry, hot eyes. and
she continued to repeat the faeful words,
dead dead dead !" until each one pres
ent feared for her reason.
Howard King looked from one to an
other of the group. Cant one of you say
a word ?" he questioned in sheer despera-
ton. "She will lose her senses before an
hour, unless some one interposes." But
the men stood silent dumb before such
intense sorrow in their midst
Seeing that no one would or could vol
unteer a word of comfort or sympathy,
| King went over to the table where she was.
and taking her hand again, said in trem-
bling voice, II am so sorry for you
madame-so grieved; poor Baptistep'
His words had the desired effect, and
putting her head down on the rude pine
| board. she burst into tears, sobbng as if
her heart would break.
The repast stood untouched. and the
sturdy lumbermen were iain to forget
heir hunger, for who could have eaten a
mouthful with women weeping like that
at the table?
Suddenly she started up. Where have
YOU laid himp Take me to him." she
pleaded through her tears, clutching the
proprietor's arm
Yes he said, gently, 1--WE will go to
Baptiste Come"
He led her away, out along the moonlit
shore--for the moon had risen and lighted
up the bluff beautifully.
The men followed in procession, at a
respectful distance, as Howard King led
the sorrowng woman up The lonely. rug
ged pathway to the peaceful mound under
the whispering pines.
When they came to the grave she knelt
utNi u Dil lut NtliOW tdl pStiuS VI hCth pihC
leaves. and covered her lace with her
hands as if in silent prayer.
Howard King removed his hat reverent-
lv, and the men followed his example
and all was silent in that moonlit scene as
the pulseless sleeper beneath, except the
whispering south wind in the branches
above. and the musical tapping of the
waves below.
Presently the agonized mourner
stretched out her hands over the glinting
waters. and cried in tone of despair,
never to be forgotten by the sympathizing
auditors. "Oh. cruel, cruel waves to
rob me of my hearts best and dearest
Oh Baptiste, Baptistel"
at is Lake Baptiste henceforth," said
the proprietor, with much feeling. "be-
cause she has christened it,"
} And it was so. that the wall of a broken
heart going forth over the moonlit wa ers
on a sweet night in September. gave to
this beautiful lake its suggestive name.
The sorrowipg women went away from
the grave of her lover that night, forever,
for in few short months she too had
D passed from this room into the next. y
the victim of a broken heart.
But, they tell me that the mournfuI
echoes of the sad christening linger YET
I eb, RI - tho nina-